Gabbert, Martinez, Lattimer, McGaffie Honored As Big 12 Football Players Of The Week

October 25, 2010

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Blaine Gabbert (MU), Taylor Martinez (NU), Jacob Lattimer (ISU) and Gahn McGaffie (MU) have been named Big 12 Conference Football Players of the Week, as selected by a media panel. Martinez has been honored for the second time in 2010, while Gabbert, Latimer and McGaffie earn their first weekly awards of the season.

Big 12 Co-Offensive Players of the WeekBlaine Gabbert, MU, QB, Jr, Ballwin, Mo.Blaine Gabbert led Missouri to its first-ever win over a No. 1-ranked team, as MU downed top-ranked Oklahoma, 36-27 Saturday night in Columbia, Mo. The junior finished 30-of-42 for 308 yards and a score. Gabbert completed 8-of-9 passes for 95 yards and one TD in the 4th quarter. Despite OU's 21-20 lead heading into the 4th quarter, Gabbert led a crucial 5-play, 72-yard drive to begin the quarter. His drive ended in a 38-yard TD pass to WR Jerrell Jackson for a 26-20. That score put the Tigers up to stay in what was MU's first win over Oklahoma since 1998.

Taylor Martinez, NU, QB, Fr, Corona, Calif.Taylor Martinez set Nebraska freshman records for passing yards (323), passing touchdowns (5) and total offense (435) in NU's 51-41 win over undefeated Oklahoma State on Saturday. The freshman QB also posted his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season and is the first player in school history to post a 300 passing/100 rushing day. Martinez's 435 yards of total offense were the third-most in Nebraska school history and his five passing touchdowns tied for the second-most in Nebraska history. He owns the top-five rushing efforts in school history by Nebraska freshman quarterbacks.

Big 12 Defensive Player of the WeekJacob Lattimer, ISU, DE, Jr, Fort Scott, Kan. In his first career start, defensive end Jacob Lattimer was a major factor in Iowa State's win at No. 22 Texas. He made seven tackles with two tackles for loss and two sacks, came at crucial moments of the game. After Texas had intercepted an Iowa State pass and took over 1st-and-10 at the Iowa State 46-yard line on the first play of the fourth quarter, Lattimer sacked Texas quarterback Garret Gilbert on the next play and forced a QB fumble. The ball was recovered by ISU defensive tackle Jake McDonough at the Texas 40 yard line. Iowa State scored its last touchdown just four plays later. When Texas took over the football on its last chance drive of the game with one minute left, Lattimer sacked Gilbert again on first down at the Texas 5-yard line.

Big 12 Special Teams Player of the WeekGahn McGaffie, Missouri, WR/KR, So, Galena Park, TexasGahn McGaffie set the tone for Missouri's win over top-ranked Oklahoma on Saturday night, as he returned the opening kickoff for an 86-yard touchdown and 7-0 Tiger lead just 14 seconds into the game. His kickoff return for touchdown was the first of his career and the first for Missouri since 2008, when Jeremy Maclin took a kickoff 99 yards for score against Illinois. McGaffie's kick return is the longest return by the Tigers in 2010.